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(No Model.)

J. W. HOLDSWORTH 8v J. B. FOLEY.

SPRING CLASP.

No. 338,526. Patented Mar. 23, 1886.

UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

JOHN HOLDS\VORTH AND JAMES B. FOLEY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 338,526, dated March 23,1886.

Application filed April 6, 1885. Serial No. 161,352.

T 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN W. HoLns WORTH and JAMES B. FOLEY, of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Spring-Clasps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to that form of clasp in which crossed arms for holding or grasping an article extend from aspiral-spring portion.

My invention is an improvement on such clasps; and it consists in features of novelty hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 isasideelevation. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section at 2 2, Fig. 1, showing two of the clasps in top view. Fig. 3 is a detail transverse section of one of the clasps at 3 3, Fig. 1.

The clasps are represented as supported on a stand, A; but they may be sustained upon fixed vertical, horizontal, or inclined rods or bars, or byany other means. The staff or stand A has a foot or base, B.

C are arms or brackets, having each an eye, D, fitting the staff A, and held in position thereon by set-screw E, screwing through the eye and bearing against the staff.

F is a piece mortised atf for the passage of the arm 0, the mortise being preferably made longer than the vertical width of the arm, so that the piece F may be set obliquely upon the arm.

G is a set-screw,screwing in the piece F and bearing against the arm 0, the set-screw holding the piece in any position upon the arm both as to distance from the staff A and as to its parallel position or obliquity. The piece F has a neck,around which is wound a spiral spring, H, whose ends extend out in rods l, upon which are secured jaw-pieces J, which cross each other, and are held together by a loop or staple, K, whose ends are attached to one of the pieces J, the other piece occupying a position between the staple or loop and the piece to which the loop or staple is secured.

L are the jaws, which are shown of curved form, so as to firmly hold an object, N. \Ve

do not, however, confine ourselves to the shape described.

(No model.)

M is a lining of soft material to prevent injury to the object, preventing its being scratched or marred in any way.

These clasps are intended for many purposes, of which a few will be mentionedviz., to hold articles in show-windows, the adjustable feature having special value in this connection, as the object or article may be presented in any position, and by presenting two or more similar articles in different positions a perfect exhibit-ion of it may be made.

The clasps may be made very useful in holding umbrellas or walking-canes, and for hold ing ornaments and curiosities.

It will be seen that articles may be very easily and quickly placed in and removed from the clasps.

\Ve claim 1. The combination of a spiral spring, H, having ends 1', jaw-pieces J, secured to the ends, and the jaws L, secured tothe jawpieces, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a spiral spring, H, having ends I, crossed jaw-pieces J, secured to the ends, the jaws L, secured to the jawpieccs, and a staple or loop, K, secured by its ends to one of the jaw-pieces, the other jawpicce occupying a position within the loop or staple, substantially as set forth.

3. The spring-arms I J, crossing each other, and the guide loop or staple K, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The spring-arms I J, carrying jaws L, with lining or padding M, for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of spring H,with arms I carrying jaws thereon, and the piece F, having a neck forming the pivot bearing 0f the spring, all constructed and arranged substantiall y as set forth.

6. The combination of spring-arms crossing each other and carrying at the ends holdingjaws pressed toward each other by the s pringtension, for the purpose set forth.

JOHN \V. HOLDS ORTII. JAMES B. FOLEY.

Vitnesses:

SAML. KNIGHT, Gno. H. KNIGHT. 

